Frost Dates for 53951 — North Freedom, Wisconsin

Half of springs at Rock Springs 3 SW, WI see their last 32°F night by April 24; only one in ten is past it by April 10, and one in ten still has one after May 7. Planting tender crops after April 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 2 20%, and after May 7 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 84% of the 182 Wisconsin stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 20 in half of years, as early as October 1 one year in ten, and holds off past November 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 31; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 27, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 178 days in a typical year, longer than at 92% of the 182 Wisconsin stations; it reaches 198 days one year in ten and falls short of 157 one year in ten. On average 145 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 10 days longer, to about May 4, and return around October 8. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 23 and March 16.

July is the warmest month at Rock Springs 3 SW, WI, averaging 80°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 25°F and 12°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 27% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,614 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 73% of the 182 Wisconsin stations. 33% of them (866) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 648.

The nearest other station, Baraboo, WI, 7 miles northeast of North Freedom and 437 feet lower, has a last frost 11 days later (May 5), a first frost 15 days earlier (October 5), a season 26 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in North Freedom usually arrives around November 22, and the last of the season around March 27. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Baraboo, WI, 7.4 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 28 days after the last snow.

ZIP 53951 is 7 miles from Rock Springs 3 SW, WI, which stands at 1,260 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 53951 in zone 5a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -20 to -15°F (-28.9 to -26.1°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.